Search - Girl, Interrupted on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Not For Children, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Watch With Your Teen Movie Release: 1999 DVD Release: 06/06/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 7 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 85 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Melodrama, Coming-of-Age

In 1967, 19-year-old Susanna (Winona Ryder) feels that "reality is becoming too dense" and is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The doctor suggests to her parents that she be committed to the Claymore Hospital, and she spends the next 18 months struggling with her troubled psyche and the bizarre world of the institution. Susanna bonds with several other patients, including Lisa (Angelina Jolie), Polly (Elizabeth Moss), and Georgina (Clea DuVall). As she realizes that Lisa is potentially dangerous and truly needs help, Susanna begins to work harder with her psychiatrist (Vanessa Redgrave) and the nurse on the ward (Whoopi Goldberg). But Susanna soon learns that getting out of the hospital is not as easy as getting in. Girl, Interrupted was based on the autobiography of Susanna Kaysen, who really did spend a year-and-a-half in the McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Winona Ryder - Susanna Kaysen
Angelina Jolie - Lisa
Clea Duvall - Georgia
Brittany Murphy - Daisy
Elisabeth Moss - Polly
Jared Leto - Tobias Jacobs
Jeffrey Tambor - Dr. Potts
Vanessa Redgrave - Dr. Wick
Whoopi Goldberg - Valerie

Angelina Jolie may have received most of the attention for her Academy award-winning supporting actress turn in Girl, Interrupted, but this Columbia DVD edition shows that she isn't the only element of the picture that deserved praise. A complex, rewarding film that was too often compared with the more allegorical One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, this DVD edition includes a diverting HBO First Look "making of" documentary, an isolated music score, and a few lesser extras. The real revelations come in director and co-screenwriter James Mangold's commentary track and a selection of scenes deleted from the final film. Mangold's superb audio commentary guides viewers through the step-by-step process of bringing this story to the screen. Everything from illustrating a theme with visuals, to working with actors, to the importance of art direction is discussed in a lively fashion. This probably won't interest casual movie fans but is invaluable for filmmakers and those interested in the complex filmmaking process. Also included on a separate track is a series of scenes edited out of the film. Mangold takes viewers through these deleted scenes, explaining why he took them out. Though his edits were sound, the deleted scenes explain the meaning behind the film's title and shed further light on the Winona Ryder character's emotional problems and her relationship with her mother. The anamorphic widescreen transfer is pristine and the audio is featured in Dolby Digital or Dolby 2.0 Surround Sound. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide